AGP Executive Report

International Justice: Navi Pillay’s Nobel Peace Prize puts The Gambia’s genocide case against Myanmar in the spotlight: she serves as an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice in proceedings brought by The Gambia. Election Watch: President Adama Barrow predicted opposition leader Ousainou Darboe will lose December’s presidential election. Darboe, meanwhile, questioned the legitimacy of past elections and rejected Barrow’s call for an alliance. Political parties are also pressing the electoral commission to release full supplementary voter-register data amid disputes over registration figures. Accountability: The Gambia’s special prosecutor says TRRC-era prosecutions will follow an evidence-based strategy and rejects claims of selective justice. Gala has demanded a government response by October 30 to a report on the sale of Yahya Jammeh’s assets; the Reparations Commission says proceeds from a US property sale have yet to arrive.

International Justice: Navi Pillay won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting international law. She is an ad hoc judge in The Gambia’s genocide case against Myanmar, bringing renewed attention to the country’s role in pursuing accountability through the courts. Election Campaign: President Adama Barrow predicted a heavy defeat for UDP leader Ousainou Darboe in December’s presidential election. GMC leader Mai Fatty urged voters to reject opposition parties, while a UDP diaspora chairman endorsed Darboe as the best candidate to address the country’s challenges. Border Governance: The Gambia Immigration Department brought security officials and civil society together to validate standards for border officers, with a focus on integrity, accountability and complaints about unofficial fees and slow responses.

Election Campaign: President Adama Barrow cast the December 5 vote as a choice between continuing his development programme and starting afresh. UDP leader Ousainou Darboe questioned the fairness of past elections, alleging ballot-box irregularities during Yahya Jammeh’s rule; he offered no supporting evidence in the interview. Political Rhetoric: Malagen flagged Mai Ahmed Fatty’s warning against associating with the UDP as potentially inflammatory, noting that it appeared to discourage citizens from attending the party’s events. Electoral Roll: A coalition has urged the IEC to release the supplementary voter register, while the commission denies discrepancies in the registration data. Accountability: The government has outlined a special mechanism for post-TRRC prosecutions, as the Special Prosecutor rejected claims of selective justice. The Reparations Commission also says $2.5 million from the sale of a Yahya Jammeh property in the United States has yet to arrive.

Election Contest: President Adama Barrow cast the December 5 vote as a choice between continuing his development programme and starting afresh. UDP leader Ousainou Darboe challenged the fairness of past elections under Yahya Jammeh, alleging ballot-box interference but offering no evidence in the interview. Political Climate: A media-monitoring group flagged Mai Ahmed Fatty’s warning against associating with the UDP as potentially inflammatory. The Coalition of Progressive Gambians urged opposition parties to unite, while the IEC faced renewed calls to release full supplementary voter-register data. Voting Rights: A revising court dismissed an objection to Adama Bah’s voter registration, ruling that suspicion alone was not enough to remove his name. Accountability: The government outlined its planned mechanism for prosecuting TRRC-era crimes, as the Reparations Commission said $2.5 million from the sale of Yahya Jammeh’s US property had yet to arrive.

Election Transparency: The Coalition of Progressive Gambians is urging the IEC to publish the supplementary voter register so parties and citizens can check entries ahead of the December presidential election. Regional Justice: Former Supreme Court judge Awa Bah has been sworn in to the ECOWAS Community Court, joining four new judges as the bloc’s chair called for impartiality and public trust. TRRC Accountability: The Justice Ministry says a Special Accountability Mechanism is needed to turn TRRC findings into prosecutions that meet criminal-court standards, while preserving defendants’ rights and delivering justice to victims. Political Participation: A Banjul forum trained 50 women to address political violence and hate speech, and encouraged more women to run for office. Separately, philanthropist Momodou Turo Darboe warned voters against politicians who exploit tribal loyalties or seek office for personal gain.

Election Watch: Opposition groups are pressing the IEC to publish the supplementary voter register before the December presidential election. The UDP questions a reported 28,932-voter gap, while the IEC denies a discrepancy. Campaign Trail: Ousainu Darboe says a single opposition party could defeat President Barrow, who is promoting development during his nationwide tour. Philanthropist Momodou Turo Darboe has urged voters to reject tribal politics and politicians focused on personal gain. TRRC Accountability: The Justice Ministry says the Special Accountability Mechanism is needed because criminal trials require admissible evidence, not simply TRRC testimony. A separate call for justice stresses the need for investigators, prosecutors and funding. Mahawa Cham Case: The ECOWAS Court adopted a settlement committing The Gambia to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the former MP’s disappearance and killing, compensate his family and return his remains. Regional Justice: Former Supreme Court Justice Awa Bah has taken office as an ECOWAS Court judge for a four-year term. Power Supply: The government says newly received generators are part of its response to crippling power cuts.

ECOWAS Justice: The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice swore in five new judges in Abuja, including Justice Awa Bah of The Gambia and Liberian lawyer Cllr. Charlyne Brumskine, as ECOWAS chair Bassirou Diomaye Faye urged “impartial, credible and independent” rulings to rebuild public trust. Power Crisis Response: Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow’s task force received two new 10.5MW generators from China for Banjul, with a third unit expected soon to boost supply and prevent a repeat of last month’s outages. Elections & Trust: The IEC rejected claims of a 28,932-voter discrepancy in the 2026 supplementary registration, saying the figure shared with the UDP was raw field data and that cross-matching removed duplicates and damaged cards. Reparations Update: The Gambia Reparations Commission says it has not yet received $2.507m recovered from Jammeh’s Potomac property sale, despite a signed US transfer agreement, and is awaiting completion of the transfer process. Local Governance: During President Barrow’s “Meet the People” tour, residents in Upper Saloum and Sami pressed for electricity, better roads, jobs, health and education services reaching communities beyond main routes. Public Service Discipline: The NDP protested the demotion and transfers of fire officers allegedly caught praising its leader Kebba Madi Bojang during IEC party registration.

ECOWAS Court: The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice swore in five new judges, including Gambian Justice Awa Bah, for four-year non-renewable terms, with Senegal’s Bassirou Faye urging impartiality and protection of citizens’ rights. UN Diplomacy: The Gambia assumed a three-year UN role chairing the Global Coordination Bureau of the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), with Lamin B. Dibba leading alongside Binta Jeng. Power Crisis Response: VP Muhammed BS Jallow welcomed two new mega-generators (10.5MW each) arriving in Banjul to boost electricity supply, aiming for commissioning by end of October/early November. Elections Transparency: The IEC rejected UDP claims of a 28,932-voter discrepancy in supplementary registration, saying the public figure included replacements and spoiled cards but was removed after cross-matching. Reparations Update: The Reparations Commission says the $2.507m recovered from Jammeh’s Potomac property sale has not yet been received, though transfer is ongoing. Meet the People Tour: Residents in Upper Saloum and Sami urged Barrow to extend roads, electricity, jobs, health and education to underserved communities. Education Funding: The Teachers’ Union called for higher education budgets, timely releases, better teacher allowances, and the long-awaited Teacher Service Commission. Football (Gambia): CAF appointed four Gambian officials for a Champions League fixture; Serrekunda United’s Muhammed Ceesay completed a move to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ansar FC.

Gambia Power Relief: The government has received two new mega-generators (21MW total) to ease crippling blackouts, with installation and commissioning expected by month-end. TRRC Accountability: The Special Prosecutor outlined an evidence-based strategy for TRRC-related prosecutions, stressing fair trials and looking at direct perpetrators as well as those who ordered, planned, encouraged or had command influence. IEC Registration Dispute: The UDP says the IEC’s supplementary voter registration figures don’t match its dataset, citing a 28,932-voter discrepancy and demanding clarification to protect confidence in the voters’ register. Digital Government: MoFEA, GRA and the Gambia National Single Window began a training workshop on a digital duty waiver waiver application system via SmartPort to improve efficiency and transparency. Political Tensions: Coalition 2026 accused the ruling NPP of “weaponisation of identity politics” ahead of the December 2026 election, alleging divisive remarks in the president’s presence.

Gambia Politics & Governance: Coalition 2026 accuses President Adama Barrow’s NPP of “weaponisation of identity politics,” alleging ministers and allies are stoking ethnic and ancestral division ahead of December 2026 elections. Elections & Electoral Integrity: The UDP demands IEC clarification over a 28,932-voter discrepancy between the IEC’s supplementary registration figure and the dataset it received, saying it wants answers to protect confidence in the voters’ register. Justice & Accountability: Special Prosecutor Martin Hackett says prosecutions tied to the TRRC will follow an evidence-based strategy and reject claims of selective justice, while a UN expert on extrajudicial executions is set to visit The Gambia from 5–16 October. Public Administration: Government begins a two-day workshop on the Digital Duty Waiver Application System in Banjul, aimed at modernising customs processes via the SmartPort platform. Sports (Gambia): Young Scorpions lose 3-1 to Senegal in a U-20 friendly; CAF appoints three Gambian officials for beach soccer and WAFU U-20 AFCON qualifiers.

Gambia Politics & Elections: Political parties say the Independent Electoral Commission is delaying and refusing to share full voter data, raising fresh fears over transparency and the credibility of upcoming polls. Women & Power: President Adama Barrow pledged an extra D50 million for women and announced the final phase of CRR electrification contracts, as communities in Central River Region North pressed for faster access to electricity and clean water. Peace & Governance: The Gambia was ranked Africa’s 4th most peaceful country in the Global Peace Index 2025, climbing 16 places and credited to improved stability and community cohesion. Regional Democracy: ECOWAS says it will deploy youth observers alongside election monitors for Nigeria’s 2027 polls, and also for Cabo Verde’s November vote and The Gambia’s December polls. Sports Diplomacy: CAVB honoured the Gambia Volleyball Federation for its contribution to African volleyball, with the award received in Cabo Verde.

Ghana Football Crisis: Ghana’s Black Stars remain without a substantive coach after Carlos Queiroz’s exit, and the fallout is turning into open pressure on the Ghana Football Association. King Faisal owner Alhaji Karim Grusah called for GFA president Kurt Okraku to resign, saying the team’s performance against The Gambia was “Zero,” as Ghana lost 4-2 after surrendering a 2-0 lead. Coach Search & Government Oversight: The GFA and Sports Ministry set up a five-member search committee chaired by former GFA vice-president Fred Pappoe, with a deadline of Oct. 9 to recommend a new head coach. The Sports Ministry also ordered a major overhaul of national team management, including dissolving the technical team and creating a new government-GFA structure, while directing the next coach appointment to follow FIFA-standard cooperation. Regional Politics & Elections: ECOWAS says it will deploy youth observers alongside traditional missions for Nigeria’s 2027 polls, and will extend the approach to Cabo Verde and The Gambia’s December elections. Education Rights (International): Gambia is listed among co-sponsors as UAE education minister Sarah Al Amiri spoke in Geneva on girls’ right to education.

Gambia–Nigerian banking tensions: A new Central Bank of The Gambia directive orders banks to replace non-Gambian staff with “suitably qualified Gambian nationals,” citing Labour Act 2023 breaches—raising fears of fresh pressure on Nigerian workers and businesses. ECOWAS election oversight: ECOWAS says it will deploy youth-only election observers for Nigeria’s 2027 polls, after pilots in Côte d’Ivoire and Benin, and plans to extend the model to Cabo Verde and The Gambia. Ghana football governance spillover: Ghana’s Black Stars crisis after a 4-2 home loss to The Gambia has triggered major government–GFA moves: Carlos Queiroz exits by mutual agreement, and Sports Minister Kofi Adams directs restructuring, including dissolving technical teams and creating joint committees to select a new coach. WAEC leadership change: WAEC appoints Nigerian Dr Amos Dangut as Registrar/CEO for a five-year term, succeeding The Gambia’s Alhaji Pateh Bah.

Gambia-UN Rights Watch: UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Morris Tidball-Binz will visit The Gambia from 5–16 October 2026, starting in Banjul, to assess right-to-life protections, accountability steps after the democratic transition, and progress on Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission recommendations. Ghana Football Governance Spillover: Ghana’s Black Stars crisis is driving major government–GFA moves after a 4-2 home loss to The Gambia and a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire; Carlos Queiroz has left by mutual agreement, and Sports Minister Kofi Adams has ordered restructuring, including dissolving technical teams and creating a National Technical Management Committee with government input before any new coach is appointed. Coach Search Committee: A five-member head-coach search committee is set up, chaired by former GFA vice-president Fred Pappoe, with Anthony Baffoe, Agbesi Dzakpasu, Stephen Appiah and Faisal Chibsah; report deadline is 9 October. Regional Politics via Sports: Calls are growing for GFA president Kurt Okraku to resign, while some fans in Keta discuss whether André Dede Ayew could run for GFA president to “reset” Ghana football. Education Administration: WAEC appointed Nigerian Dr Amos Josiah Dangut as Registrar/CEO for a five-year term (Oct 2026–Sept 2031), succeeding The Gambia’s Alhaji Pateh Bah.

Black Stars Coaching Shake-up (Ghana): Ghana’s Sports Ministry and the GFA moved to restructure national-team management after Carlos Queiroz’s exit following defeats by Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia. The ministry ordered dissolution of the Black Stars technical team and existing management committees, set up a new National Technical Management Committee with government and GFA representation, and directed that the next coach can’t be appointed unilaterally by the GFA. Black Stars Search Committee (Ghana): A five-member head-coach search committee was also formed, chaired by former GFA vice president Fred Pappoe and including Stephen Appiah, Anthony Baffoe, Faisal Chibsah and lawyer Agbesi Dzapkasu. WAEC Leadership Change: WAEC appointed Nigerian Dr Amos Josiah Dangut as Registrar/CEO for a five-year term (Oct 2026–Sept 2031), succeeding Alhaji Pateh Bah of The Gambia. Human Rights Watch (The Gambia): UN OHCHR says Special Rapporteur Morris Tidball-Binz will visit The Gambia (5–16 Oct 2026), starting in Banjul, to assess protection of the right to life and progress on accountability since the democratic transition. Barrow’s Election Outreach: President Adama Barrow began a 19-day “Meet the People” tour ahead of the December presidential election, urging peaceful, transparent voting and community engagement.

Regional Appointments: WAEC has named Nigerian education administrator Dr Amos Josiah Dangut as its new Registrar and CEO for a five-year term (Oct 2026–Sept 2031), succeeding Alhaji Pateh Bah of The Gambia. Gambia Human Rights Watch: UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Morris Tidball-Binz will visit The Gambia from 5–16 October 2026, starting in Banjul, to assess right-to-life protections and accountability progress. Ghana Football Governance Spillover: Ghana’s Sports Ministry and the GFA agreed sweeping changes after the Black Stars’ poor AFCON qualifier start and Carlos Queiroz’s exit—directing dissolution of the technical team and management committees, creating a National Technical Management Committee with government input, and requiring consultation before appointing the next coach. Elections & Civic Engagement: President Adama Barrow has begun a 19-day “Meet the People” tour ahead of December’s presidential election, urging peaceful, transparent voting and citizen dialogue. Gambia in the Spotlight (Sports): Gambian referees officiated an Eritrea–South Africa match in Cairo, and winger Ebrima Seckan continues to impress for Senegal’s Teungueth FC.